Mani Malai is a 1941 compilation of four Tamil comedy short films. The first of them - Ashaadabuthi, was directed by Fram Sethna and features P.B. Rangachari, T.N. Vasudevan Pillai, T.V. Sethuraman, K.S. Adhilakshmi, T.S. Jaya and Pankajammal. The second - Minor-in Kaathal, was directed by and features T.S. Durairaj, M.R. Swaminathan, T.V. Sethuraman, N. Venkataraman Babu, K.S. Adhilakshmi, P.R. Mangalam and K.V. Shanthabai. The third - Abbuthi Adigal, features P.B. Rangachari, P.G. Venkatesan, V.N. Sundaram, ‘Master’ Sivam, T.N. Meenakshi and V.N. Janaki-Krishnabai (dances). The fourth and final of the compilation - Naveena Markandeyar, was directed by A.T. Krishnaswamy and features Kali N. Ratnam, T. R. Ramachandran, K. Hiranaiah, M.R. Subramaniam, Ratnappa and T.V. Annapoorani.

Plot

This film deals with untouchability in a lighter vein, about a bhagavathar (P. B. Rangachari) misbehaving with a domestic help (Jaya). She visits him with her husband. Scared, and with his wife (K.S. Adhilakshmi) at home adding to it, the man apologises for his conduct. Comedy actor T.V. Sethuraman plays his disciple and M.R. Subramaniam plays the village headman.